No matter whether you’re learning French or just curious, these fascinating facts about France will provide an excellent way to expand your knowledge! From their fondness for cheese to strange superstitions – discover something new about this fascinating culture! French has numerous dialects that differ from one another – similar to how Texas, Alabama and…
On Monday, Jupiter will pass closer than ever before in 59 years – providing an excellent opportunity for telescopes and binoculars. People often respond that Venus is the closest planet to our home planet; however, according to a new study this assumption is actually incorrect. Venus Answering “What is the closest planet to Earth?” usually…
This rare NASA commemorative Swiss Army knife was released in 1989 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Apollo 11 Moon Landing. It features an image from that mission in metal inlay on its front blade; while on its main blade is depiction of Command Module docked with Moon Lander as well as dates for landing….
Your body is an incredible wonderland. Here are some surprising and fascinating human body facts! Your body is composed of tiny quantum particles known as atoms that behave strangely; each has an orbital pattern similar to a solar system with an electron orbiting around its core nucleus and electrons zipping along behind. Bones The human…
Winter Olympic medals are awarded to winners of various winter sports. Our library provides plenty of materials about these sports; simply clicking the name will take you directly to that subject heading in our on-line catalog. Skeleton athletes compete with incredible speed on an ice track, reaching 80mph! Here are other fun facts about Winter…
As soon as sunlight hits our atmosphere, its rays scatter, creating what is known as Rayleigh scattering, named for 19th century physicist Lord Rayleigh. Shorter wavelength light such as blue and violet scatters more than long wavelength light; hence why our sky appears bluer. This phenomenon was named for Lord Rayleigh’s 19th century experiment on…
A spacecraft bus serves as the main structure and support mechanism for satellite payloads, providing power, commanding, telemetry and an appropriate thermal environment. Spacecraft buses or platforms designed with sophisticated capabilities have enabled the deployment of more powerful communications antennas, high resolution remote sensing/meteorological sensors, and precise navigational payloads. Structures and Mechanics Subsystem A spacecraft…
Mars is often considered Earth’s twin, sharing many similar qualities such as its long Martian days referred to as sols. Mars shares Earth’s axial tilt and spin period, giving rise to similar seasons like spring, summer, autumn and winter. However, its orbital eccentricity is larger. Daytime Mars is often referred to as Earth’s “Twin.” It…
At Cape Canaveral, a test of a command module meant to be the exit route for astronauts was marred by tragedy when it caught fire during operation. Three people perished. The fire was started by chafed wires and flammable materials ignited by pure oxygen and further exasperated by pressurization in the cabin. It served as…
